Using a little reverse psychology, MTA officials removed the garbage cans from subway stations to see if it kept them cleaner — and they claim it worked like a charm.

The agency said on Thursday that riders are leaving less trash behind at the stations without cans, rather than just tossing it on the tracks or the platforms.

“This pilot appears counterintuitive, but when we placed notices at the pilot stations indicating that the cans had been removed and asked the customers for their cooperation, it looks like they listened,” said MTA President Carmen Bianco, noting that less litter means fewer rats and bugs.

“Given these results, we’ll continue the pilot and monitor and collect additional data at stations.”

The pilot program was launched in 2011 at the Main Street Station at the eastern end of the 7 line in Flushing, Queens, and the Eighth Street station on the N/R in Manhattan.

Last year, the MTA took all the trash cans from the J, M and Z stations in Brooklyn and Queens.

Officials said riders balked at first, dropping their coffee cups, dirty tissues and half-eaten bagels right on the platforms.

But they are mostly taking their trash with them now, leading to litter reductions of between 36 percent and 66 percent.

The MTA plans to keep the pilot program going for another six to 12 months and study the results before any further expansion.

But not everyone is pleased with the loss of trash cans at the stations.

Frustrated workers at the Brighton Beach B/Q station put their own trash cans in place to replace the ones that the MTA took off the platform.

They said they are tired of climbing onto the tracks and scouring the platform to pick up trash left by stymied riders.

“Ain’t nobody taking their garbage along,” said one annoyed worker.

“They leave it.”

Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents MTA workers, said the program is causing headaches.

“People just throw their garbage on the platform,” said Joe Bermudez, Local 100 division vice chairman representing cleaners.

And rider Juanita Rivera chimed in, “It is very uncomfortable. Sometimes you’re eating and there is nowhere to put it.”